Success, Service Recognized By Extension
Julia Frush was honored with the Friends of Extension Award during last night’s Kosciusko County Extension Annual Meeting.
The meeting was held in the Shrine Building on the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds. It was a night of lightheartedness, sharing success, challenges and recognition. (To see the full year in review report, click HERE.)
Frush has been active for over 50 years in extension work, involved in leadership on local and county levels. “If she has a job to do, she goes over and above to see it through to completion,” stated Julie Popenfoose, extension board member who introduced Frush.
Over the last 10 years Frush has been co-chairwoman of the Home and Family Arts Building on the fairgrounds, and chaired sewing days and the silent apron auction at the fair.
Frush was recognized for sharing her love for cooking with demonstrations at the county fair and she is known for “Z is for the zillions of zucchini” cooking lessons. She is also a charter member of the Rural Neighbors Extension Homemakers and serves as vice president on the board of the county extension homemakers, and was president for the 2005-06 year.
She was named the 2013 Extension Homemaker of the Year and active in the Kosciusko County Historical Society. She and husband Jerry have two children.
An honorary Friends of Extension Award will be presented to Joanie Younce, who retired in November as county extension director. She was not able to attend last night’s event.
Retiring board member Sandy Wise, who has served two terms on the extension board, was also recognized and presented with a plaque.
Fab Holsclaw was elected to her first term on the board with Steve Trump, Judy Egolf, Kassi Rowland and Mindy Truex being re-elected to their second terms.
Success Stories
Kelly Heckaman, county extension director, shared success stories of some of the outstanding 4-H’ers in the county. Those recognized were Garrett Rodgers, Leina Helfers, Kevin Hesser, Hannah Tucker, Katrielle Rodgers, Madelyn Zimmerman, Scott Hesser, Lacey Helfers, Ashley Helfers and Lindsey O’Hara.
These individuals are members of the 4-H Livestock Judging team, recipients of Livestock Youth Promotion Grants, successfully set and met goals, or received scholarships. These youth also have learned various lessons through 4-H.
Bishop Keynote Speaker
Former school teacher and area farmer Bob Bishop, Leesburg, was the keynote speaker for the evening. “One of the things life has taught me is ‘Our Heritage and Our Future’,” on which he focused his presentation.
Including a few humorous comments, Bishop challenged all present to become involved, noting “life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer to the end it gets, the faster it goes.”
He recognized the various age groups present, noting those age 60 and over as being the heritage for the community. Recognizing those ages 25 to 60, he noted these individuals, while having busy lives are the ones who can get things done, because they know how to budget their time. He added those who “give something back (to the community) get a lot in return.”
Those under the age of 25, he noted, are the future of the community and he challenged them to become involved, step out of their comfort zones and recognize that if something needs done, make a decision to help out and use their talents.
“You may not be remembered what you did or said, but you will always be remembered how you made (people) feel.”
He also spoke of his passion of feeding the hungry and starting “No Child Should Go Hungry In the Farm Community.” Through this program, he and other farmers could donate proceeds from the sale of crops, produce, etc. to Combined Community Services. Over $100,000 was given through this program.
Since then, Indiana Farm Bureau has started Hoppers for the Hungry. The creation of Kosciusko Community Foundation’s Ag Cares fund has also been started to help support youth in ag-related issues and donations work in similar fashion.
Because sponsors offset the cost of the evening’s meal, those attending were encouraged to donate the meal cost to the Ag Cares fund.
Heckaman noted with the loss of two extension educators, the local extension service has a small, but mighty crew. The two open positions are expected to be filled in the near future.